Peer Support Services are non-clinical services provided by Certified Peer Support Specialists that support rehabilitation and recovery through shared lived experience. Services are delivered in community-based settings to promote connection, skill-building, and recovery.

Peer Support Services Available:

• One-on-one peer support
• Goal setting and life skills development
• Group support and community engagement
• Referrals to mental health, housing, employment, and VA benefits
• Support for court-involved individuals

Eligibility

• Veterans (regardless of discharge status)
• Spouses and dependents
• Must live in one of the following counties: Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Lee, Williamson

The Financial Assistance Program provides temporary, emergency financial support to eligible individuals and families experiencing financial hardship. This assistance is short-term and intended to stabilize households.

Financial Assistance Available:

• Housing Stability (mortgage, rent, including deposits, late fees, arrears)
• Utilities (electric, water, gas, garbage, internet, primary cell phone, connection/reconnection fees)
• Food Support (groceries)
• Transportation (gas and vehicle assistance, insurance or limited loan payments, public transportation, ride services)
• Employment-related needs (tools, uniforms, fees)
• Mental health services (co-pays, uncovered expenses)
• Essential items or services that reduce barriers to stability

Eligibility:

• Veterans (regardless of discharge status)
• Spouses, surviving spouses, and dependents
• Must live in one of the following counties: Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Lee, Williamson
• Veteran is listed on the bill or expense being requested
• Must demonstrate financial need

**All financial assistance is subject to eligibility and documentation requirements, and is dependent upon the availability of grant funds.**

For individuals who recently experienced a behavioral health crisis and identified themselves as a veteran or a family member of a veteran, our team will reach out to the individual for a follow up after the crisis event. Within the follow-up, our team will work with the individual to find resources within their communities for the services that will best fit their needs.

 Bluebonnet Trails’ Peer Volunteers go throughout our communities we serve to reach out to veterans within the community. Our Peer Volunteers introduce individuals to services available within their community that will assist with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, integration back into their community from military life to civilian life, how one can be affected by substance use, and more. We work with veterans to empower them with resources that will ensure a successful welcome back into their hometown.

Within our Veteran’s Program, we offer groups for veterans to come together and learn how to manage the traumas they have once faced. We work with individuals on safe coping skills and how to use the resources available for them. Our curriculum is based on the evidence-based practice of Seeking Safety. Our team is trained in this curriculum through the consulting team of Lisa Najavits, the author of the Seeking Safety curriculum.

Texas Veterans Commission is on location in Seguin, Texas at the Doug Herrle DAV Chapter #61. At this location, veterans can arrive and receive assistance with claims as well as various benefit programs.

Address: 425 North Vaughan Street, Seguin, TX 78155

Transitioning out of the military can be a challenging experience associated with stressors, decreased social connections, and increased risk for mental health problems. The Veteran Sponsorship Initiative (VSI) is an evidence-based program designed to reduce these stressors by matching transitioning service members with a community-based sponsor who helps them rejoin their civilian communities by assisting with housing, employment, educational opportunities, and access to mental health support.

For more information about volunteering to assist a transitioning service member, download the ETS Sponsorship Volunteer Flyer (PDF).